HALO Talks

09/03/2026

Why Now Is The Time To Invest In The HALO Sector

Today is Thursday, which means another HALO Academy 2 Minute Financial Drill.

Taken again from Pete Moore's chat with Brian Smith over at Piper Sandler, here are a few key takeaways from this clip.

●Fitness demand is being driven by several converging tailwinds: 7-10% organic category growth, GLP-1 medication usage, and younger generations prioritizing wellness spending.

●COVID accelerated industry consolidation by removing excess supply, leaving stronger operators with less competition.

●AI is expected to free up consumer time but can't replace the need for physical activity, reinforcing long term demand for in-person fitness.

●Differentiation, not just price, is described as the key value proposition consumers are now paying for.

09/03/2026

Kat and Brooke Wyman are clearly big fans of yoga, but they don't have a "traditional" yoga background. Kat is an ultra-endurance athlete, and Brooke is an ultra-runner.

They both came to yoga as a supplement to what they were already doing, really got into it, and simply then wanted to share it with others. They did not start because they saw a "business gap," but rather because they were genuinely passionate about spreading the word.

Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors.

Look for this episode with Kat & Brooke Wyman on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified.

09/01/2026

Today is Tuesday, which means a new HALO Talks is out.

We're talking with Kat and Brooke Wyman, the two founders behind SoulFire yoga collective.

The name came from a quote about following your passion. They started in the small beach community of Rehoboth, Delaware and quickly expanded to Bethesda, D.C., and Arlington.

They're currently in the process of a raise and are a great example of a brand that not only weathered COVID, but came out doing quite well on the other side. Lots of takeaways in this one for the boutique folks out there.

Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors.

Look for this episode with Kat & Brooke Wyman on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified.

09/01/2026

New Episode! "Episode #613: SoulFire's Formula-Blending Brand Identity, Community, and Profitability in Boutique Fitness"

Welcome to HALO Talks! In this episode, we sit down with Kat and Brooke Wyman, the co-founders behind SoulFire Collective Yoga, a rapidly growing boutique fitness concept in the D.C. metro area. What began as a smaller, community-driven studio at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, quickly blossomed into a thriving brand with locations in Bethesda and Arlington, thanks to a blend of deep-rooted passion for wellness and sharp operational backgrounds . . . Kat from Lululemon and Brooke from the restaurant industry.

Kat and Brooke talk about their path from various side-hustles (and doing literal bike-loads of laundry in the early days of the business!) to now profitable, vibrant, scalable studios that buck the trends seen in the wider boutique fitness industry. Host Pete Moore digs deeper into how their athlete-first approach to yoga resonates with members seeking both community and resilience, their strategies for location selection and market expansion, and the systems that power their rapid instructor onboarding, which bypasses the traditional models for a more immersive, scalable approach.

Listen for actionable insights on building authentic fitness communities, the importance of operational complementarity, and what venture-minded investors should consider as SoulFire eyes its next phase of growth. If you're interested in where the HALO sector's heading post-pandemic, or if you're looking for inspiration on how to scale with purpose, this is a must-listen.

When it comes to their longevity, Kate states, "I think what's really interesting, and I think what's made Brooke and I unique and what's helped us survive COVID . . . is that we're really good at keeping our ear to the ground and listening for what's needed, but also keeping everything that we shift or change, really on brand and really aligned."

Key themes discussed

Community-centric wellness spaces and fostering belonging

Growth from local studio to multi-location brand

Unique founder backgrounds blending retail, restaurants, athletics

Non-traditional, scalable approach to yoga business

Market selection and suburban expansion strategy

In-house instructor training for quality and scale

Ideal investors: passionate community members or experienced sector partners

A Few Key Takeaways
1. Build Around Community, Not Just Modality: Creating a community hub was the foundational vision for SoulFire. Rather than chasing a trend, Kat and Brooke built a brand rooted in belonging, connection, and well-being, using yoga as the "container" for this mission 00:46 01:21.

2. Cross-Disciplinary Backgrounds Fuel Strong Operations: The founders' experience, one from Lululemon retail management, the other from the restaurant industry, gave them complementary skill sets in branding, experience design, logistics, and cost control. This blend has been instrumental for profitably scaling their studios 08:44 09:40.

3. Differentiation Through "Human Readiness": Soul Fire's value proposition extends beyond traditional yoga. Their focus on human readiness—equipping members with resilience and life skills—sets them apart. Programs like power yoga, activating breathwork, and mat strength target well-rounded physical and mental readiness, not just fitness 14:04 14:52.

4. Data-Driven Expansion Strategy: Location selection is driven by close analysis of demographic and psychographic factor, not simply "gut feel." Their highest-performing studio, Bethesda, serves as a prototype: targeting affluent suburban markets on the edge of large metros, with residents already engaged in other premium fitness offerings. Expansion is further informed by observing successful peers like [solidcore] 17:25 20:08 21:07.

5. Scalable, In-House Instructor Training: Instead of relying on slow, traditional 200-hour yoga certifications, SoulFire developed an immersive, internally controlled instructor training program. This approach speeds up onboarding while maintaining quality and brand standards, enabling fast and consistent scaling 23:02 24:50 25:20.

Resources:
SoulFire Collective: https://soulfirecollective.com
Brooke Wyman: https://www.instagram.com/_b.wyman_
Kat Wyman: https://www.instagram.com/katwyman/
Integrity Square: https://www.integritysq.com
Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
Promotion Vault: https://www.promotionvault.com
HigherDose: https://www.higherdose.com

Welcome to HALO Talks! In this episode, we sit down with Kat and Brooke Wyman, the co-founders behind SoulFire Collective Yoga, a rapidly growing boutique fitness c…

08/26/2026

Carrie Bacon says wellness practices like saunas can (and perhaps should!) be part of daily life, not just for recovery. Regular use helps your body handle stress and toxins.

Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors.

Look for this episode with Carrie Bacon on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified.

180 Degrees

08/25/2026

Today is Tuesday, which means a new HALO Talks! (Sign up to get notified each time an episode drops at www.halotalks.com)

Carrie Bacon says wellness practices like acupuncture and cold plunges can better be looked at like a "Venn diagram."

She says, "Your comfort zone will kill you." Some of these modalities purposely push you out of your comfort zone to handle stress better. Controlled stress tends to build up a bit of resilience, which of course helps with the ongoing "innate stressors of life."

Follow this page for more HALO sector updates (Health, Active Lifestyle, Outdoors) from Integrity Square/The HALO advisors.

Look for this episode with Carrie Bacon on the HALO Talks Podcast here: https://www.halotalks.com/ and be sure to subscribe to get notified.

180 Degrees

08/25/2026

New Episode! "Episode #612: Building Community Through Contrast Therapy-Carrie Bacon's Vision for 180 Degree Bathhouse"

In this episode, host Pete Moore sits down with Carrie Bacon, a classically trained acupuncturist and co-founder of 180 Degrees Bathhouse in Kansas City. With decades of experience in acupuncture, bodywork, and holistic wellness (sparked by her own journey to recovery) Carrie talks about the intersection of contrast therapy, sauna culture, and acupuncture in building healthier communities. She shares her vision for micro bathhouses as hyper-local hubs combating the epidemic of loneliness and chronic health issues through social wellness, and her perspective on why mainstream medicine is poised for a return to more holistic modalities.

If you're interested in scaling your HALO-sector venture, or leveraging new trends in recovery and community health, this episode is packed with a ton of takeaways.

When it comes to the loneliness crisis, Bacon states, "Isolation was recently deemed a health epidemic. Loneliness is a health epidemic. And, being able to put bathhouses, which gives you access to that application of contrast therapy, you go into the sauna, you have your sweat, you take a moment of pause to allow your body to settle down and calm down, and then you rinse off and you step into a beautifully designed cold water basin."

Key themes discussed

Integration of contrast therapies for holistic wellness

Acupuncture's role and mainstream adoption challenges

Importance of personalized, non-prescriptive wellness protocols

Foundations: Building strong health habits over optimization

Social wellness and combating loneliness via community spaces

Micro-bathhouse model for underserved markets

Scaling wellness businesses: capital, education, and community

A Few Key Takeaways
1. Reshaping Recovery-Move Beyond Protocols to Daily Practice: Carrie emphasizes the importance of integrating modalities like sauna, cold plunge, and acupuncture into daily routines rather than obsessing over rigid optimization protocols. She explains that "some of these modalities are just meant to be interwoven as daily practices, not necessarily only for recovery optimization." This habitual approach can create a stronger foundation of health and reduce the need for constant targeted recovery 06:17.

2. Reframing Wellness Facilities-The Micro Bathhouse Model: Bacon lays out her vision for 180 Degrees Bathhouse—a micro, 1,600 sq ft venue designed to bring thermic wellness to underserved markets. Rather than chasing massive, urban flagship bathhouses, she's pioneering a right-sized, community-driven model to increase adoption in areas where the concept is virtually unknown 16:08.

3. Acupuncture's U.S. Potential-A Resurgence is Coming: Despite skepticism and slow mainstream acceptance in the U.S., Carrie forecasts a renaissance for acupuncture as the U.S. healthcare mindset shifts towards "healthspan over lifespan" and more holistic, root-cause approaches. She says the field is poised for a return to "thousands of years of medical discipline before we started looking at the system so microscopically" 10:18.

4. Loneliness as a Wellness Crisis, and Bathhouses as the Solution: Both Carrie and Pete underscore the declared national epidemic of loneliness. Carrie positions the bathhouse as a "community center," tackling isolation and enabling organic, meaningful social connections. The micro model creates a "third space" where you can be with a group or on your own, but never truly alone 17:18.

5. Bathhouse Modalities Provide Metabolic and Mental Benefits: Bacon highlights the scientifically supported impacts of sauna and cold plunge: increased metabolic flexibility, better glucose/insulin control, and cardiovascular benefits all while building self-mastery. These accessible, self-directed practices are particularly relevant for addressing major public health issues such as obesity and diabetes 24:00.

Resources:
Carrie Bacon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-bacon-53141168
Integrity Square: https://www.integritysq.com
Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
Promotion Vault: https://www.promotionvault.com
HigherDose: https://www.higherdose.com

08/20/2026

It's Thursday and that means another 2 Minute Financial Drill! Now that we're slowly creeping into the fall and the pending restart of the HALO Academy in a new format (more on that later) keep an eye out for these.

Lots already posted on our YouTube channel as well. (https://www.youtube.com/)

Here's another one clipped from Pete Moore's panel with Brian Smith at Piper Sandler at this past Athletech News ATN Summit in NYC.

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Some Takeaways

●The Houston Planet Fitness rebrand sold at approximately 5.5x club level EBITDA.

●The seller was required to terminate group exercise, personal training, and daycare staff before closing, as part of the model conversion.

●Despite the operational overhaul, 97% of memberships were retained, a very high number relative to forecast.

●Strong retention numbers like this can give other hesitant operators more confidence to consider a similar rebrand.

08/18/2026

New Episode! "Episode #611: Outpatient Innovation-Dr. Munir Ghesani Discusses Theranostics, Expansion, and Clinical Trials"

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Munir Ghesani, Chief Medical Director at United Theranostics, to explore the cutting edge of personalized cancer treatment and the business of scaling innovative healthcare delivery. Dr. Ghesani discusses his three decades long path in New York's academic medicine scene to leading a fast-growing outpatient theranostics group, detailing why he left academia, what makes theranostics uniquely effective for patients, and how United Theranostics is building a national footprint through a decentralized, community-based model.

We'll unpack how their patient-first strategy is shaking up referral dynamics, why community settings are the future of cancer care, and what it takes to recruit medical talent and manage rapid clinical expansion. Plus, Dr. Ghesani reveals the business challenges of clinical trials, payer dynamics, and how a rigorous approach to risk keeps innovation on track. Whether you're in healthcare, investing, or looking to build a next-gen medical services brand, this episode connects patient outcomes, operational strategy, and smart growth in healthcare.

Key themes discussed

Transition from academia to private theranostics practice

Personalized, patient-centered cancer treatment models

Patient access and geographic convenience

Clinical trials and innovation in care delivery

Recruitment and training for high-growth clinic expansion

Collaborative physician partnerships vs. pure referral

Regulation, quality control, and risk management in trials

A Few Key Takeaways
1.Theranostics-Personalized, Precision Medicine: Theranostics is revolutionizing patient care by merging diagnostics and therapeutics to deliver highly personalized treatment plans, particularly in oncology. Unlike traditional, one-size-fits-all treatments, theranostics involves tailored scanning to target therapies specifically to affected areas, ensuring treatments are both targeted and trackable for efficacy 05:07 06:02.

2. Outpatient Model Drives Access and Community Impact: The majority of cancer care occurs outside of major academic centers, with about 80% delivered in community settings. United Theranostics focuses on suburban locations, making advanced treatments more accessible and convenient for patients who would otherwise travel significant distances to academic hubs 08:42 14:13.

3. Dual Audience Strategy: Physicians & Patients: United Theranostics balances building awareness and trust among both referring physicians and patients. While most referrals come from medical professionals, growing patient awareness is generating direct demand, reinforcing the need for strong brand positioning, serving as both a partner to doctors and a recognized consumer brand in its space 10:05.

4. Scaling Without Compromising Quality: With ambitions for 50 clinics in every state within seven years, United Theranostics is scaling through greenfield development and a strong recruitment pipeline from academic institutions. The company prioritizes training, regulatory compliance, and quality control, resisting the urge to rapidly acquire or retrofit existing practices 14:29 15:25.

5. Clinical Trials as a Competitive Advantage: Clinical trial partnerships are fueling United Theranostics' growth and reputation, drawing patients locally and nationally for cutting-edge, not-yet-FDA-approved treatments (covered by drug companies). The organization's comfort with complexity and strong academic roots allow it to handle demanding cases, setting it apart from less equipped competitors 18:28 19:58.

Resources:
Dr. Munir Ghesani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/munir-ghesani-md-facnm-facr-fsnmmi-19b29728
United Theranostics: https://www.unitedtheranostics.com/
Integrity Square: https://www.integritysq.com
Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com
Promotion Vault: https://www.promotionvault.com
HigherDose: https://www.higherdose.com

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Munir Ghesani, Chief Medical Director at United Theranostics, to explore the cutting edge of personalized cancer treatment and…

08/13/2026

New Episode! "HALO Academy Two Minute Financial Drills: The Three Strategic Buyers Circling Independent Operators Right Now"

It's Thursday and that means a 2 Minute Financial Drill! Now that we're slowly creeping into the fall and the pending restart of the HALO Academy in a new format (more on that later) keep an eye out for these.

This one is clipped from Pete Moore's panel with Brian Smith at Piper Sandler at this past Athletech News ATN Summit in NYC.

● PureGym US, Crunch area developers, and Planet Fitness area developers are the three strategic buyers actively circling independent clubs right now.

● These buyers are contractually obligated, through franchise development milestones, to open in a market whether or not an independent operator agrees to sell.

● Irrational development, i.e. overclubbing a market, is described as the biggest risk to profitability for independent operators and investors alike.

● If a strategic buyer reaches out, engaging is recommended over ignoring the outreach, since they will build around an operator who doesn't transact.

It's Thursday and that means a 2 Minute Financial Drill! Now that we're slowly creeping into the fall and the pending restart of the HALO Academy in a new format (m…